Press Statement dated 14 January 2019
Tomorrow, trade union Solidarity and suspended Schweizer-Reneke teacher Elana Barkhuizen will address a joint press conference on recent events at the town’s primary school.
Solidarity will announce legal action to be taken to have the unlawful suspension of Barkhuizen lifted. The trade union will also announce certain steps to be taken following action taken by North West’s MEC for Education, Sello Lehari.
According to Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann, Lehari’s hasty and populist actions led to Barkhuizen’s unlawful suspension while being innocent. Had he listened to the other side he would have reached a different conclusion. “However, he charged and convicted her in bundu court fashion in the presence of a worked-up crowd,” Hermann said.
At the press conference Solidarity will also announce steps to be taken against political parties that have exploited the incident for political gain.
Elana Barkhuizen, the suspended teacher, will make a brief statement. Please note that she will not be in a position to take questions or grant interviews.
The press conference will be hosted in English but Barkhuizen’s statement will be in Afrikaans. An English translation of her statement will be available.
When: 15 January 2019
Time: 12:00
Venue: Forever Hotel @ Centurion. Cnr. Rabie street and Basden avenue, Lyttelton, Centurion, 0163
Issued by Dirk Hermann, Executive Officer: Solidarity